Trunk-strap.



No. 700,|5a.

Patented May I3, 1902., 0. A. STONEMAN.

' TRUNK STRAP.

(Application filed July 29, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, OF TVVO-THIRDS OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

TO SAMUEL S. GREENE,

TRUNK-STRAP.

S1 ECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Fate-zit No. 700,158, dated May 18, 1902.

Application filed July 29, 1901..

To all 1072,0112, it nvcty concern.-

Be it known that I, ORVILLE A. STONEMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norfolk, in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trunk-Straps; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of'the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains' to make and usethe same.

This invention simplifies and cheapens the class of fasteners of'the lever-acting type designed for straps forbi'nding trunks and like packages, and, further, aims to minimize the amount of metal entering into theformat-ion' of the fastener and to reduce the number of parts and weight, as well as to increase the efficiency and add to the desirability of this class of fasteners.

The invention consists of a lever member having one end of the strap fastened thereto and the opposite end adjustably connected therewith to provide for lengthening and shortening the strap and a catch member mounted upon the end portion ofthe strap fastened to the lever member and adapted'to interlock with the latter after the strap has" been tightened or strained. Theinvention also consists of the novel features, details of construct-ion, and combina tions of the parts, which hereinafter will be more particularly set forth, illustrated, and finally claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a fastener embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the memhere or parts of the fastener extended or thrown open. Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section. Fig. 4 is a detail view in perspective of the catch member.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the .views ot' the drawings by the same reference characters.

The fastener comprises the lever member 1 and the catch member 2. The strap 3 isfastened at one end to an end of the lever member 1; and its opposite end'has adjust-able con nection with the lever member toadmitof lengthening and shortening the strap to the girth of the trunk or package to be bound.

The lever member comprises sidebars 4, a terminal cross-bare, an intermediate crossbar 6, and a plate 7, connected at its longitudinal edges to the top edges of the side bars 4, said plate having a transverse slot 8 opposite the intermediate cross-bar 6 to receive the folded end portion of the strap 3, the crossbar 6 lying in the bight or fold of the strap. A lock-case 9 is located near the outer or free end of the lever member and incloses the lock mechanism comprising the lock-bolt 10, by {means of which the two members 1 and 2 are secured when closed and the strap is strained or under tension. The outer end of the lever member is made rounding and is notched in its lower or bottom edge,as shown at 11, to receive the catch member 2. The lock-bolt 10 is operated by means of a key 12 and is springactuated, so as to automaticall'y engage with the catch when the lever member is folded thereon. The parts of the lever member with the exception of the rear plate of the-lock-case are integrally formed, being preferably cast, although theymay be stamped or struck up from sheet metal. An end portion of the strap 3 is folded around the terminal cross bar 5 and is rivetedor otherwise secured, and the opposite end portion of the strap is passed through the transverse slot 8, thence around the intermediate cross-bar 6 and back through the said slot 8, the cross-bar 6 lying in the fold or bight of the strap and the loose end portion of the latter coming between the lever 1 and the main portion of the strap and confined by the latter, whereby slipping is prevented.

The catch member consists of a plate having a transverse slot 13 near one end and a hook-shaped projection 14 at the opposite end, and this part 14 is hollow and beveled at its upper outer end and formed with an abrupt or straight shoulder at its inner end. A transverse slot 15 is formedin the rounded beveled side of the hook-shaped projection 14 and an opening 16 is formed in the straight shoulder of said partfor the reception oflthetprojecting end of the lock-bolt 10, whereby the memhers 1 and 2 are secured after the member 1 has been folded upon the member 2. The end portion of the strap'fastened to the lever member 1 passes through the slot 15, thence beneath the plate of the catch member and up through thetransverse slot 13. The hookshaped projection 14 snugly fits within the recess formed at the free end of the lever member 1 in advance of the lock-case 9, and inner shoulders 17 at the ends of the notch 11 overlap the hook-shaped projection 14: of the catch member and prevent outward displacement thereof, inward displacement being prevented by the straight shoulder of the part 14 engaging with the front portion of the lockcase 9. The catch member is mounted upon the end portion of the strap 3, fastened to the lever member, and can be moved to a position thereon to admit of its hook-shaped end portion 14 fitting within the recess of the lever member in advance of the lock-case. The notch 11 at the outer end of the lever member permits of the passage of the strap after the two members have been locked.

It will be observed that the lever member has close connection with an end portion of the strap and turns upon the latter when strainingor loosening the strap, thereby resulting in the provision of an exceedingly simple and cheap construction and obviating the necessity of constructing the catch member of a length approximating the lever member. The effective length of the strap is regulated by the adjustable connection of the strap with the lever member, and after the strap has been placed around the trunk or package and the length adjustedthis being determined by testingthe strap is tightened or strained by folding the lever member upon the catch member in the usual way, the lever member being secured by engagement of the lock-bolt 10 with the opening 16. The lever member is released by means of the key 12, which withdraws the lock-bolt from the opening 16 of the catch member.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In combination, a lever mem'ber provided at one end with a recess, a strap fastened to the opposite end of the lever memher, a catch member mounted upon the end portion of the strap fastened to the lever member and having a hook-shaped projection to snugly fit within the aforesaid recess of the lever member and positive interlocking means between the recessed end of the lever member and the hooked end of the catch member to secure the lever member when folded upon the catch member, substantially as specified.

2. In combination, a lever mem her having a recess at one end, and a notch and inner shoulders at the outer side of the said recess, a strap having an end portion fastened to the opposite end of the lever member, and a catch member mounted upon the end portion of the strap fastened to thelever member and having a hook-shaped projection to snugly fit within the aforesaid recess at the outer end of the lever member, said hook-shaped projection having a transverse slot for the passage of the strap, the latter passing through the notch at the outer side of the said recess, substantially as set forth.

3. The herein-described fastener comprising a lever member consisting of side bars, an intermediate and a terminal cross-bar, a plate connected to the upper or outer edges of the side bars and having a transverse slot opposite the intermediate cross-bar, the outer end of the lever member having a recess, an outer side of the recess having a notch and inner shoulders, a strap having an end portion folded around the terminal cross-bar and having its opposite end portion adjustably connected with the intermediate cross-bar, and a catch member consisting of a plate having a transverse slot at one end and a hookshaped projection at its opposite end formed at its outer side with a transverse slot and at its inner side with a straight shoulder having an opening to receive the lock-bolt at the outer end of the lever member, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ORVILLE A. STONEMAN. [L. s] Witnesses:

W. J. JACKSON, CHAS. P. CLEMENT. 

